Clamping device



May 15, 1934.- H, HOWE 1,958,667

CLAMPING DEVICE Filed Oct. 17, 19253 I nvenlor Patented May 15, 1934 CLAIVIPING DEVICE Thomas Hugh Howe, Darlington, Wis.

Application October 17, 1933, Serial No. 693,981

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a clamping device, the general object of the invention being to provide means for clamping a strip around a tooth, the strip acting to hold a filling in the tooth until the filling has set.

This invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and specifically pointed out in the appended claim.

In describing the invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawing wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which:

Figure 1 is a View showing the device in use for holding a strip around a filled tooth.

Figure 2 is a section on line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an elevation of the device.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view through the device.

Figure 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a sectional view through the cap.

As shown in this drawing, the device comprises a pair of jaw members 1 and 2, each of which is of elongated form and each having one end bent at an angle, as shown at 3, with the inner parts of these ends cut away, as shown at 4, and these parts are hingedly connected together by a rivet 5 which passes loosely through the two parts, the cut-away parts 4 permitting the two jaw members to have a certain amount of movement on the rivet. A second rivet 6 passes through the parts 3 inwardly of the rivet 5 and this rivet 6 is slightly longer than the rivet 5 so as to not interfere with the opening movement of the jaws and a spring '7 encircles the rivet 6 and is located in recesses 8 formed in the inner portions of the parts 3. Ihis spring tends to hold the two members 1 and 2 slightly separated, as shown in Figure 4.

Each of the members 1 and 2 has an outwardly extending wing 9 at-an intermediate part thereof, these wings being arranged opposite each other and they form finger engaging parts whereby the user, by pressing upon these wings, can close the jaws against the action of the spring '7. The opposite ends of the two jaw members are reduced and exteriorly threaded, as shown at 10, for receiving a socketed threaded part of a cap 11 so that when the jaw members are pressed together and the cap threaded on the parts 10, the jaw members are held in closed position.

A groove 12 is formed in the inner face of one jaw member for receiving a rib 13 on the inner face of the other jaw member.

As is well known, a strip, such as that shown at 14, is placed around a tooth 15 after the filling 16 is put in place so as to hold the filling while it is setting and. heretofore this strip has been held in place by the fingers of the dentist. With this invention, the strip 14 is placed around the filled tooth, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, and the end portions of the strip are then passed between the two jaw members, after which the jaw members are closed by pressure of the fingers of the dentist upon the wings 9 and then the cap 11 is put in place to hold the jaw members in closed position, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. Thus the device needs no further attention from the dentist while the filling is setting. Of course, the groove 12 and the rib 13 will cause the jaw members to more firmly grip the strip and prevent slipping of the strip while being held by the clamp.

That side of the clamp which comes close to the teeth is shaped as shown at 1'7, to conform approximately to the labial surfaces of the anterior teeth.

It is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages and novel features of the invention will be readily apparent.

It is to be understood that changes may be made in the construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, provided that such changes fall within the scope of the appended claim. What is claimed is:-

A clamp for holding a strip of material around a filled tooth, comprising a pair of elongated members hingedly connected together adjacent one end, a rivet passing through the jaw members adjacent said end, a spring encircling the rivet, and said jaw members having inner recesses for receiving the spring, the other ends of the jaw members being reduced and threaded, a cap having a threaded socket therein for receiving said end for holding the jaw members in closed position upon the strip, and finger engaging partsprojecting from intermediate portions of the jaw members.

THOMAS HUGH HOWE. 

